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Blight Inoculations on Hybrid Chestnuts – Chestnut Return Farm, Seneca, SC, April 17, 2025

Today, several hybrid chestnut trees were inoculated with a fungal culture of Cryphonectria parasitica, which causes chestnut blight, to evaluate the resistance of each tree, at Dr. Joe James’s Chestnut Return Farm. Jamie Van Clief, TACF’s Southern Regional Science Coordinator, directed volunteers for this important work.  Clemson professor Dr. Haiying Liang and her students, Roger and Sky, participated.  Also, Katie Biggert, from the South Carolina Forestry Commission inoculated trees.  Peggy MacDonald, NC/SC Chapter President was also present to help.

Jamie demonstrated the method of inoculating trees with the fungus.

Jamie demonstrated the method of inoculating trees with the fungus.

 

Dr. Joe James with Clemson student Roger.

Dr. Joe James with Clemson student Roger.

 

Clemson students Roger and Sky inoculating hybrid chestnut trees.

Clemson students Roger and Sky inoculating hybrid chestnut trees.

 

Dr. Haiying Liang inoculating chestnut hybrids with Sky and Roger. This was a great hands-on experience for her students,

Dr. Haiying Liang inoculating chestnut hybrids with Sky and Roger. This was a great hands-on experience for her students.

 

A healthy F1 American/Chinese hybrid chestnut at the Chestnut Return Farm.

A healthy F1 American/Chinese hybrid chestnut at the Chestnut Return Farm.

 

Dr. Joe James with the volunteers on a beautiful spring day.

Dr. Joe James with the volunteers on a beautiful spring day.

 

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The American Chestnut Foundation
13 hours ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past and celebrate the Black leaders shaping our present.

Today we highlight Victor Harris, founder of Minority Landowner Magazine and keynote speaker at TACF’s 2022 Fall Symposium.

From exploring the forests of Georgia as a kid to becoming the first Black forester in the Virginia Department of Forestry, Victor has spent his life supporting Black and minority landowners. Read more about Victor and his journey: tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/

#americanchestnut #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #chestnuts #farming #land #farm #nature #restoration #conservation ... See MoreSee Less

Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past and celebrate the Black leaders shaping our present.Today we highlight Victor Harris, founder of Minority Landowner Magazine and keynote speaker at TACF’s 2022 Fall Symposium.From exploring the forests of Georgia as a kid to becoming the first Black forester in the Virginia Department of Forestry, Victor has spent his life supporting Black and minority landowners. Read more about Victor and his journey: https://tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/ #americanchestnut #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #chestnuts #farming #land #farm #nature #restoration #conservationImage attachment
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The American Chestnut Foundation
4 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Love grows—just like the American chestnut. 💚

From everyone at TACF, Happy Valentines Day!

Illustrations on our valentines were done by Hal Brindley.

#americanchestnut #explorepage #restoration #conservation #nature #environement #valentinesday ... See MoreSee Less

Love grows—just like the American chestnut. 💚 From everyone at TACF, Happy Valentines Day! Illustrations on our valentines were done by Hal Brindley. #americanchestnut #explorepage #restoration #conservation #nature #environement #valentinesdayImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment
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The American Chestnut Foundation
5 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Seed prep is underway! Meadowview Research Farms staff and Emory & Henry Bonner Scholars are currently bagging seeds that will be sent to TACF Seed Level Members next week. These hybrid chestnut seeds are collected from genomically selected mother trees at Meadowview Research Farms and are one of the only ways to get seeds from TACF. Each seed represents a step forward as we prepare them for distribution to our seed level members; thank you for helping grow the future of the American chestnut!

#AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ChestnutSeedlings ... See MoreSee Less

Seed prep is underway! Meadowview Research Farms staff and Emory & Henry Bonner Scholars are currently bagging seeds that will be sent to TACF Seed Level Members next week. These hybrid chestnut seeds are collected from genomically selected mother trees at Meadowview Research Farms and are one of the only ways to get seeds from TACF. Each seed represents a step forward as we prepare them for distribution to our seed level members; thank you for helping grow the future of the American chestnut!#AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ChestnutSeedlings
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The American Chestnut Foundation is with Science.
6 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

A major milestone for conservation science.

Our Director of Science, Dr. Jared Westbrook, has published new research in “Science” showing how genomic tools can transform endangered species recovery. By using recurrent genomic selection, we can predict resilience earlier, shorten breeding cycles, and build a restoration system that grows stronger with every generation.

This model doesn’t just help the American chestnut, it could guide restoration for threatened species across the world.

Read the full article: www.science.org/eprint/SBHDH76BXDK366UMHU44/full?activationRedirect=/doi/full/10.1126/science.adw...

#ScienceResearch #ConservationScience #americanchestnut #restoration #conservation #science #nature #explorepage #chestnuts ... See MoreSee Less

A major milestone for conservation science.Our Director of Science, Dr. Jared Westbrook, has published new research in “Science” showing how genomic tools can transform endangered species recovery. By using recurrent genomic selection, we can predict resilience earlier, shorten breeding cycles, and build a restoration system that grows stronger with every generation.This model doesn’t just help the American chestnut, it could guide restoration for threatened species across the world.Read the full article: https://www.science.org/eprint/SBHDH76BXDK366UMHU44/full?activationRedirect=/doi/full/10.1126/science.adw3225#ScienceResearch #ConservationScience #americanchestnut #restoration #conservation #science #nature #explorepage #chestnutsImage attachment
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Would this work for the American elm tree?

Across the world...is that like around the world?

Is the American Chestnut Foundation releasing hybrid chestnuts for sale again? I knew you'd shut down the program because you didn't consider the hybrid chestnut tree lineage fixed enough yet in terms of growth pattern. I'm wondering if one can buy chestnut tree saplings again from the Chestnut Foundation?

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The American Chestnut Foundation
7 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

We’re honored to be highlighted in this AVLtoday feature on the American chestnut’s story in Western North Carolina.

While the path to restoration is long, moments like this remind us how many people care about bringing this tree back to the landscape it once defined.

Thank you to everyone who continues to help this story grow.

Read the article: avltoday.6amcity.com/chestnut-tree-wnc

Photo curtsey of Audrey Snow Owen of PA/NJ TACF

#americanchestnut #explorepage #restoration #conservation #environment #nature #asheville #chestnuts ... See MoreSee Less

We’re honored to be highlighted in this AVLtoday feature on the American chestnut’s story in Western North Carolina. While the path to restoration is long, moments like this remind us how many people care about bringing this tree back to the landscape it once defined.Thank you to everyone who continues to help this story grow.Read the article: https://avltoday.6amcity.com/chestnut-tree-wncPhoto curtsey of Audrey Snow Owen of PA/NJ TACF#americanchestnut #explorepage #restoration #conservation #environment #nature #asheville #chestnuts
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I thought American chestnuts didn't have hairs on them or shiny leaves. Is this a chinese hybrid?

Is the photo a back crossed hybrid of American chestnut and Chinese chestnut?

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